EDUCATION

PhD in Leadership, University of Calgary
MEd in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Calgary
BA in International Relations, University of Calgary
Certificate in Conflict Resolution: Mediation, Justice Institute of British Columbia
Certificate in Conflict Resolution: Negotiation, Justice Institute of British Columbia
Certificate in Marketing Management, University of Calgary

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Leda Stawnychko is an Associate Professor of Strategy and Organizational Theory at Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business. Her research focuses on leadership development and succession, organizational performance, and transformative learning. She also holds adjunct academic positions at the Haskayne School of Business and the Cumming School of Medicine, both at the University of Calgary.

Born and raised in Monterrey, a cosmopolitan city nestled in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range in northern Mexico—often called “the city of mountains”—Dr. Stawnychko brings a unique cultural perspective to her work. Prior to joining Mount Royal University, she gained over 25 years of leadership experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors, advancing strategic initiatives both locally and internationally. Drawing on these diverse experiences, she fosters dynamic and interactive learning environments in both her academic courses and professional workshops.

Dr. Stawnychko is a certified professional mediator with designations from the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Institute of Canada and the Alberta Family Mediation Society. Alongside providing leadership training and coaching, she volunteers her time to support non-profit organizations and individuals through complex transitions. She has served as a board member for the ADR Institute and the Institute of Public Administration and is actively involved in university governance as a member of Mount Royal University’s General Faculties Council, its Executive Committee, and the Academic Planning and Budget Committee. She also serves as the Mediator for the Mount Royal Faculty Association (MRFA).

TEACHING EXPERTISE

Leadership Development
Ethical Leadership
Healthcare Leadership
Organizational Behaviour
Change Management
Conflict Management and Negotiations
Business Communications
Management Principles and Practices

SCHOLARLY CONTRIBUTIONS

• Stawnychko, L. (in press). Transformative pathways: Fostering leadership development through reflective education. Imagining SoTL. 
• Stawnychko, L. (in press). [Review of the book Radical respect, by K. Scott]. The Department Chair. 
• Stawnychko, L. (2025). Leadership development for department chairs: Integrating formal training, experiential learning, and mentorship. Journal of Leadership Studies. https://doi.org/10.1002/jls.21916.
• Stawnychko, L., & Choudhary, A. (2025, February 20). How to handle difficult conversations in your early career, from salary negotiation to solving conflict. The Conversation Canada.
• Stawnychko, L. (2024). The strategic role of social networks in academic leadership development. CSSHE SCÉES Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 54(1), 42-54. https://doi.org/10.47678/cjhe.v54i1.190159. 
• Stawnychko, L. (2024, October 29). Why Gen Z is saying ‘no’ to middle management — and why you might want to reconsider. The Conversation Canada.
• Stawnychko, L., & Wang, T. (2024, September 25). "No Man Is an Island"…Except for department chairs. The Department Chair, 35(2), 22-23.
• Stawnychko, L., & Oguike, M. (2024, September 25). Struggling to make decisions at work? Learn how to build confidence. The Conversation Canada.
• Stawnychko, L., & Rafi, M. (2024, August 11). Giving feedback can be daunting for new leaders — here’s how to provide it thoughtfully. The Conversation Canada.
• Stawnychko, L., & Tsou, E. (2024, June 22). Imperfect progress: The Chair's role in navigating conflicts. The Department Chair, 35(1), 1-3.
• Stawnychko, L., & Tsou, E. (2024, June 10). Ready for the next step in your career? Here’s how to prepare for your first leadership position. The Conversation Canada.

RESEARCH AWARDS

• 2025 Mokakiiks SoTL Collaborate Grant: Multi-institutional perspectives on leadership education. Collaborators: Maliheh (Mali) Mansouri & Steven Brierley.
• 2024 SSHRC Explore Grant: Academic leadership succession at Canadian universities. Co-investigators: Uthpala Senarathne Tennakoon & Janet Miller.
• 2024 Teaching-Learning Enhancement Grant: Building undergraduate leadership capacity through experiential role-play. Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, MRU. Students-as-partners project assistants: Edie Flaterud, Sam Paley, Mason Weakley, Christelle Viola, & Mariel Rodriguez.
• 2023 e-Learning Project Support: Developing a hybrid MGMT 3276 Organizational Behaviour course. Academic Development Centre, MRU. Curriculum development partner: Christina Devetzis.
• 2023 Mokakiiks Essential Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Grant: Evaluating undergraduate leadership education for transformative impact. Students-as-partners research assistants: Izza Khatoon & Kiran Qureshi.
• 2022 Business Schools Association of Canada (BSAC) Grant: Workplace incivility at business schools in the post-pandemic society. Student-as-partner research assistant: Mehnaz Rafi, PhD Candidate, University of Calgary.